The Department of Foreign Affairs spent nearly €3 million on three major refurbishment projects of Irish embassies and consulates.
The programme of work included spending of just over €800,000 at a new consulate in Mumbai, India, €1.3 million on the recently opened consulate in Vancouver, Canada, and €828,000 in expenditure at the Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
At the Wellington Embassy, €1,736 was spent on a designer handmade rug called a Teadra Round, according to a database of expenditure released under FOI.
Another €2,263 was paid out for what was described as “wool Donegal tweed” with €5,593 paid to a company for interior design and layout services.
The bulk of the €828,000 spent went to construction firms for the actual fit-out with €5,850 paid out in professional fees for logistical and technical support.
In the Vancouver consulate, just over €6,000 was spent on artwork including €1,790 paid for a triptych called Golden Reeds Winter by the artist and photographer Hugh MacConville.